The International Cycling Union (UCI) stripped Armstrong of all his achievements since August 1998 after he was accused of being at the heart of sport’s biggest doping scandal.

The UCI notified the Texan on December 6 that he had until December 27 to appeal his lifetime ban.

Armstrong, who has always denied doping, had already announced in August that he was dropping his legal challenge against the allegations made against him by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which had been waiting on the result of any appeal, could now demand that Armstrong returns the time-trial bronze medal he won at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.